Old World Monkeys: Cercopithecidae - Physical Characteristics

mandrills leaf including cheek

Old World monkeys are divided into the leaf-eating monkeys (including langurs [lang-GURZ] and colobus and proboscis monkeys) and the cheek-pouched monkeys (including macaques [muh-KOCKS] and mandrills). Most have subdued dark colorations with lighter undersides. Some, such as mandrills, have spectacular color combinations. All species have forward-facing eyes and short snouts. The buttocks have two hardened pads for prolonged sitting. Most have long tails. Leaf-eaters have a four-chamber stomach for digesting their main diet of plants. The cheek pouches are used for storing food to be safely eaten in trees.

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